Joy Bird - The Sober Science of Migrating Rubber Duckies

Feb. 23, 2009 - The Sober Science of Migrating Rubber Duckies

"In January 1992, a freighter crossing the Pacific from Hong Kong to Tacoma, Wash., ran into rough weather near the International Date Line As the ship heaved through the storm-tossed seas, several cargo containers on deck--including one filled with tens of thousands of plastic tub toys--came loose, fell overboard, and broke apart. Seven months after the spill, the plastic ducks, beavers, turtles, and frogs began washing up on beaches. Scientists who track ocean currents were ecstatic. Even today, additional members of the tub-toy armada occasionally make landfall."

-Source: findarticles.com

A few months ago I came across an article in the Wall Street Journal about 'flotsam science'. Dr. Behar and his colleagues at the University of Colorado this past August set 90 yellow rubber ducks set afloat into the melt water flowing down a chasm in the largest of Greenland's glaciers. Each duck had an email address and an offer of a reward in 3 different languages. The idea is that, if all goes well, one day the ducks will come out on the other side of the glacier, which is 30 miles away. This way they will be able to learn more about the currents, and what they have to do with global warming. (Not that I think the earth is getting warmer or there's anything we can do about it) They have been doing it in other places, too. Often the rubber ducks end up on the opposite side of the world from where the scientists were expecting them.

So, why rubber ducks? Well, they're cheap, brightly colored, and they are surprisingly durable. They endure cold and pressure under glaciers, and can float around and around the world for years. Then there's the question of 'What if they get eaten?' Hmmm....

Here is the link to the article: The Sober Science of Migrating Rubber Duckies

Well, that's all for today!

-Joy Bird

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Comments

Feb. 24, 2009 - very sobering...

This is quite a sobering science...what I'm wondering is, why can't we learn about this cool stuff in our science classes? I mean, floating duckies are way better than fossils, or aomebia (i didn't spell that right) or the many microscopic parts of a plant. I wanna learn about duckies floating around the world for ages and ages and washing up on shores! It reminds me of veggie tales-king george and the ducky. (have you seen that movie?) well, i should go float some duckies for myself. :) bye!

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Feb. 25, 2009 - fascinating subject

I would like to see more articles on scholarly subjects like this one.

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Mar. 7, 2009 - Hello

Hey I have been to your page several times but never had time to comment. I have also been trying to set up a time for calling you guys. I posted a comment on your brothers page but he apparently forgot. So could you remind him. Thanks. Oh by the way great website design keep up the good work.

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Apr. 2, 2009 - Song12

I listened to your newest song, song12. It's beautiful! I thought maybe titles for it could be Simple Touch, Love's Labor's Lost :), or A Taste of (something)

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